Ball Possesion needs Tempo. Why is it so risky when underdog wants to play like Barca?

We used to perceive Tiki Taka as the peak of the development of football philosophy. Even if Barca is now far from their top form Guardiola continue his philosophical concept with Manchester City. Although gegenpressing was almost the same influential, this is tiki taka which is copied even by weaker teams, even on Championship level in England or by polish teams (even on second level). However why is it happen so often that team who used to keep ball possession by even 67 per cent of match is not promoted to first level or drop to second level? Is tiki taka still efficient?

In this analyze I want to compare three teams ; two from English second level (Leeds United, Southampton) and one from polish second level (Wisla Krakow). What teams from national competitions with such different levels like Poland and England can have in common? My assumption is based on the fact that different leagues are different with intensity and players skills ; but tactical assumptions are based on influence of the dominative philosophy in modern football.

So which are the common features of two teams from Championship and one from polish second leve?l. All three teams suppose to grow and improved results in highest league. In highest leagues they were perceived as mature and tactically advanced. Nobody could perceive fast relegation. After relegation ; with one remarks for Wisla this is second season on second level, for English teams second they want to rapidly come back to first level.

In this part I will compare Wisla and Leeds. What is common in autumn season between two teams?

Both teams choose model based on ball possession. Both perceive themselves as too good for that level. Wisla has decided for very untypical in this region tiki taka way of playing based on Tiki Taka. Moreover almost two- third of Wisla squad are native Spanish, even with La Liga past. Wisla way of playing is based on possesion. They are able to score a lot of goals, sadly for fans also loose more goals that excepted according excepted goals factor. With high pressure, and risky offensive model they are even (as we will see in second part) more similar to Southamton. However the previous coach was criticized (Radoslav Sobolevski) for lack of tempo, in few sentences for exchanging unbelievable, excessive amount of passes without serious effect, or other way ; in compare with efforts and amount of possesion Wisla ratio goal scored vs loose was underscored. They have serious striker Angelo Rodado, he is particularly good striker in compare with other players of Polish second level, but sometimes his partners are unable to deliver him opening pass. This lack of crucial, opening pass is main problem of this team. Let’s look (as per website Sportowe Fakty) on match statistic from one of the worse, less efficient match against Stal Rzeszow, the team which occupy last place, when they arrived to Cracow.

Balls possesion Wisla 68: Stal : 32

Shots on target; Wisla 8- Stal- 2

Corner – Wisla- Stal 16:2
Source : https://sportowefakty.wp.pl/pilka-nozna/relacja/147316/wisla-krakow-stal-rzeszow/statystyki

Indeed, nobody couldnt doubt that Wisla was dominative team. And indeed thay created some rumours for opponent goalkiper. Wisla is effective enough to create excepted goals, even huge amount of them, in really every match on this level. But comparing with domination they are still not effcient enough.

And second example of Wisla match ; Sobolewski’s last match against Nieciecza ; the match after with he was dismissed.

Source :thttps://sportowefakty.wp.pl/pilka-nozna/relacja/148100/bruk-bet-termalica-wisla-krakow/statystyki


This was the match when they had opponent also willingly posses the ball. They were trying to build let’s say territorial advantage, but opponent was ready to try to control match, and find the gap in the moment when Wisla was loosing ball, but cant control the moment when they should organize defense again.

As we could see in this match ball possession was 50:50. But Nieciecza team was just more efficient in create opportunity and use opportunities.

Again is confirmed that Tiki Taka is way of playing adaptive only when the team is convinced about advantage over opponent team, and can control possession. But not only control possesion is more important. In future parts I want to prove that teams like Burnley or some polish teams, are loosing their way of playing when after promotion to highest level, they want to keep their dominative, possession’s based way of playing. There is no team which can force opponent and destroy their defense structure, with lower players skills. Tiki taka needs tempo, intensity, unpredictability.

Leeds United example is very characteristic in this aspect. Daniel Farke is German coach very committed to ball’s possession ways of playing. He won promotion two times with Norwich, and two times failed after promotion. It s